Agent Orange: Birth Defects In Vietnam

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Introduction: Agent Orange was a chemical weapon that was used in the Vietnam War from 1961-1972. This chemical alone killed 400,000 people, and the nation of Vietnam reports half a million birth defects in children due to Agent Orange (History.com staff, 2011). This chemical, while being deployed in Vietnam over 40 years ago, still has significant impacts on the younger generations being born in Vietnam today. There has been a staggering amount of cases of children with birth defects, and, according to Kids Health.com, these birth defects can include autism, down syndrome, heart defects, and even altered limbs. Agent Orange is a global problem, that has many nations of the world concerned (Kids Health.com, N.d.). The American government, …show more content…
Agent Orange causes birth defects that can drastically alter the health of children. “The Vietnamese Red Cross also associates the following with exposure to dioxin: …congenital deformities such as cleft lip, cleft palate, club foot, hydrocephalus, neural tube defects, fused digits, muscle malformations and paralysis; and some developmental disabilities” (Aspen Institute, 2011). This large number of defects could leave at least some long-term impact on the future youth and generations in the country. This can change the unemployment rate in the country due to appearances, or even cause the mortality rate in Vietnam to rise, lowering population as well as lowering success in producing a healthy generation of people. However, one perspective to consider is that American Veterans have received more attention and aid for helping with medical issues. According to the Aspen Institute, “The U.S. Veterans Administration presumes that any of the 2.8 million U.S. veterans who had ‘boots on the ground’ in Vietnam from 1962 to 1975 were exposed to dioxin-contaminated herbicides, including Agent Orange” (Aspen Institute, 2011). If so many people have been affected by agent Orange, then it makes sense that several VA benefits have been created to care for several of these people affected by Agent Orange. According to the U.S. Department of Veteran Affairs, “Veterans who were exposed to Agent Orange or other herbicides during military service may be eligible for: Agent Orange Registry health exam… and/or health care benefits” (US Department of Veteran Affairs, 2016). These benefits are easy to apply for (if you’re a veteran, that is), and along with just regular health care, including both psychological and physical care, Veterans are eligible for easy to access medical attention, and are well cared for after they serve
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